God’s Words
The Bible is the beginning of the Book of Life.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
–Hebrews 4:12
As human DNA traverses from one generation to another, the Bible traverses through the generations of mankind. The Bible has survived thousands of years, and it has remained relevant. It is never changing yet ever changing; it adapts over time; and its path always leads back to its originator, our faithful God. We know these things to be true, so therefore, we should know with confidence that the Bible is truly living and powerful.
In Hebrews 4:12 above, it is very succinct with defining the word of God (the Bible).
We tend to mistakenly think of the Bible as a book of words like other books written by humans. However, Hebrews 4:12 clearly conveys to us that the Bible is something much deeper than a book of words. The Bible is one of the most precious gifts given to us by God. If God were to create a star with our name on it and present it to us to place in the galaxy, we would be awestruck, we would be humbled, and then we’d bend at our knees in prayer. But the Father hasn’t given anybody a star to place in the galaxy. Instead, He has given each of us something much greater; He has given us His words.
We tend to use our human intelligence as a means to gain depth to God’s words, just like we do with books written by humans. However, the depth of what God communicates in His words is well beyond what our human intellect is able to absorb. By only relying on our intellect, the best we can obtain is a microscopic foothold to the beginning of what God is revealing to us.
Further, if God intended for us to use only our intellect to discern His words, then those who do not meet a particular human intellectual standard would be unable to understand what is written. But through the grace of God, we know God meant the Bible to be for everyone, so, therefore, human intellect is not the key to discerning the words of God.
Unlike the Bible, human books require an intellectual standard and these books provide a predictable outcome.
My son studied exercise physiology. He read many books and studied how the various muscles in the body operate and how they interact. My nephew studied engineering and he read many books on solving complex engineering issues using mathematics. And yet another person specializes in music. Those who read the same book are, for the most part, going to learn the same thing.
A person who reads a book on physics will learn formulas and how to solve complex problems using mathematics. Another person reading the same physics book will come to the same understanding. It doesn’t make sense that one person, who reads a book on exercise physiology, would come up with a different understanding of muscles; and another person reading the same book would derive another form of understanding.
However, when one person reads a Bible passage, their understanding is different from someone else’s understanding. Two people who read the same Bible passage usually perceive a slightly different understanding, yet both can be correct within the context of the message.
A familiar passage in the Bible is the “Parable of the Prodigal Son”. I’ve heard this Bible story preached on several times by different preachers; however, not one sermon on this passage drew the exact same conclusion as another, yet all were well within the understanding of God.
To summarize up to this point, the Bible is a creation of God’s words to us which contains an infinite amount of messages. And as an individual reads the Bible, each will draw out their own unique understanding of the words.
Further, we know that our understanding of God’s words is derived from the spirit, so then, why do two people who read the same Bible passage derive a slightly different message? Is the spirit inconsistent? Of course not! Our unique understanding is not by accident, it is by design.
Consider how a prism works. A prism receives a single light source that produces many different vibrant colors. And just as a prism works, the word of God streams into each of our unique souls that produces various understandings of the Word. And just as God did not create the same person; so therefore, our understanding will be different from others. Each of us has our unique understanding of God’s words which becomes our proclamation of who God is. God had each of us in mind when He gave us His words, and He wants each of us to personify Him through our unique understanding. This process is testament to a great plan set in motion by our almighty God.
And why is the Bible not an intellectual book? Because our brain is physical and what it knows will die, but our spirit will live forever.
Now, please know, I do not support those who read the Bible to twist the consistency of God's words to support ungodly ideas.This becomes the work of the devil. We are to be true servants of God who rely on the spirit to discern the word of God.
Further, Christians are not to argue with one another in a way that shows intellectual pride. Discussions, as if the Bible is an intellectual book, are not helpful. But this is the corruption that comes from the one who battles Christ, brother against brother and sister against sister. And so, the words become one of the weapons that evil uses to thwart God’s words. Do not fall into this trap. Be kind towards one another for the words of God are meant for all.
And lastly, and most importantly, there is discussion of what the Book of Life is with many questions surrounding the concept.
The Book of Life starts off with all names, but some stay, some are blotted out. The Book of Life here on earth is the Bible. All people, regardless of faith standing, are presented with this Book of Life designed for the individual soul; so therefore, all are part of the Book of Life.
But the Book of Life here on earth makes a transformation to the heavens. As each of us draw out our own unique understanding of the Word, our faith grows;. These individual stories are joined together in the heavens to become the spiritual Book of Life. The spiritual Book of Life has a complete set of names of those who are granted life. Each of us solidifies our entry in the spiritual Book of Life as we lean on the spirit to discern the Bible. We all sign the heavenly Book of Life through our personal proclamation of the Bible; a relationship with Jesus Christ, the author.
We are to resist the temptations of the world which corrupts us and leads us to believe that human intellect is the key to discerning the word of God. For those who only rely on their own abilities, instead of the spirit, will only see words to mock and persecute, just as our Lord Jesus Christ was mocked and persecuted. Instead, claim your inheritance in the heavens by trusting God and knowing with unyielding confidence that His words are truly living and powerful.
In absolute service to God, I share this with you as a brother in Christ. Go out into the world and proclaim the word of God.